Christopher Sperrazza, CB5 MemberMiddle Village resident Christopher Sperrazza joined Community Board 5 two years ago after he sat in on a meeting and realized there weren’t too many people there like him. “I was by far the younge...

Brandy Flores, Williamsburg ResidentAt 13 years old, Williamsburg resident Brandy Flores has already shown signs of being a future neighborhood activist. Earlier this week, Flores and his neighbors led a protest in front of their bui...

Paul Samulski, North Brooklyn Chamber of CommerceFor the last three years, Paul Samulski has served as president of the North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. The organization represents Bushwick, Greenpoint and Williamsburg businesses, and aids mem...

Anshu Khadka, Desis Rising Up and MovingFor nearly two decades, the community organization Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) has been organizing working-class South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in New York City. Founded in 2000, ...

Mohammad Khan, MPower ChangeQueens native Mohammad Khan stood alongside friends and colleagues in celebration after Amazon announced that it would not build a new campus in Long Island City. “I’m happy Amazon isn’t coming,” h...

John Kelly, Eastern Queens GreenwayFor years, local advocates have been pushing for a safe, protected path from Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the Long Island border. They call it the Eastern Queens Greenway, according to John Kell...

Emely Rodriguez, Churches United for Fair HousingEmely Rodriguez was born and raised in Williamsburg, a neighborhood that she has seen change drastically over the last decade. “I’ve seen a ton of new buildings that weren’t there before. There are...

Frank Wu, Court Square Civic AssociationThe Court Square Civic Association was founded in 2015 to advocate for its residents, artists and businesses. As the newly elected president, Frank Wu hopes to improve the Long Island City neighbor...

Sereida Rodriguez, PS 84 PrincipalWilliamsburg native Sereida Rodriguez was the first in her family to graduate from college. But the road to get there was not easy. She recalled that she didn’t even think about college until she w...

Wesner Pierre, CAMBAAs a nonprofit organization based in Brownsville, CAMBA provides comprehensive services to more than 45,000 families annually. As part of their work, the organization operates a Cure Violence, anti...

Julius Michel, NYPD ExplorerWhen Clinton Hill native Julius Michel joined the NYPD’s Law Enforcement Explorer program two years ago, he was initially reluctant. “I didn’t want to sign up at first,” he said. “I was kind of res...

James Mituzas, Landscape ArchitectFor James Mituzas, working in Queens means he gets to reminisce about the borough where he was born and raised. As the director of Landscape Architecture for the Parks Department in Queens, Mituzas...